Chris Pratt
Teacher Consultant: K-12 Science
Curriculum and Instructional Services, ESC
2716
Widgets
A widget gives you the ability to embed special features like a video, calendar, or other dynamic content. The video at the top of the Class 1 page is an example of a video from TeacherTube that has been embedded on a wiki page.
To add a widget, click the Embed Widget button on the Editor bar.
Select one of the Widgets and follow the directions for that particular feature.
Here is a TeacherTube video embedded as a widget. Please note that the video was produced in March of 2009 and there have been some changes to Wikispaces since then so a few things look very slightly different. Also, the demonstrator drags to select the embeddable code, but you only have to click anywhere on the code to select it all for copying and then pasting into the widget.
Creating Tables in Your Wiki
All of the schedules on the pages for each day of TechInspired 2010 were created by inserting a table. You can create tables like this by using the button in the Editor bar. Note, however, that Wikispaces tables can be very finicky. Create a table with the number of columns and rows you need. Type some text in each column of the first row; it's a little frustrating so be patient! When you save the page, the column width should self-adjust.
Return to editing mode to complete your table. When the cursor is anywhere inside the table, you will see this button: . Click it to edit cell, row, column, and table properties.
Navigation
Most Wikispaces themes have a navigation area on the left or right side of the web page. "Home" is always the first page in the list. As you add pages to your wiki, Wikispaces uses a widget to automatically add links to the pages in the navigation area and list them in alphabetical order. If alphabetical order is not what you want, you can delete the widget and create your own navigation list.
Delete the navigation widget.
Click Edit Navigation at the bottom of the navigation list.
Delete the widget by clicking on the right side of the widget and pressing Delete on your keyboard.
Create your own navigation list.
Type the name of the first page you want listed.
Select (highlight) the page name and click the Link button in the Editor bar.
If the page already exists, select it from the drop-down list. You might have to click "Choose an existing list."
If the page does not exist, the page name you typed will be shown in red. Click the Add Link button. The link will be added the Navigation area and the new page will be created.
Manage Wiki
There are several management features that you fill find useful and necessary. Not all of the management features are listed here.
mFeaturem
Function
Rename, redirect, lock, unlock and delete pages in the wiki. You can also see who last edited the page and when.
Upload files and delete files. You can also see who uploaded the page and when.
View a list of members by username, the date they joined, and their membership level (member or organizer). Promote to organizer, demote to member, and delete members.
Change the wiki's permissions: Public (do NOT use), Protected (do NOT allow message posts from non-members), and Private.
Send people an email inviting them to join the wiki. They must have a Wikispaces account. If they don't, they have to create one and then they can accept the invitation.
Use this for adding students as members of the wiki. Upload a spreadsheet or text file list of usernames and passwords, no email addresses are needed. Usernames must be unique so add something to the beginning or end of the username like an underscore and 3 letters representing the school. For example, mjones at XYZ School could be mjones_xyz.
Select a theme (layout) and color scheme for the wiki.
Change the name of the wiki as it appears in the header (to the right of the flower pot), set the discussion tab options, and other, less commonly used settings.
See what plan you have for the wiki. If you forgot to request a free-for-educators Plus plan, you can do that at the bottom of the page.
Change the part of the URL (web address) between "http://" and ".wikispaces.com." This is what you entered for the wiki name when you created the wiki.
View usage statistics for the wiki, pages in the wiki, and members.
With the free-for-educators Plus plan you have 2 GB of space available. This includes space used by your pages, files you've uploaded, and exports.
You can have multiple wikis as part of your Wikispaces account. However, if you no longer need a particular wiki you can delete it, which removes all of the pages, files, and members. This action CANNOT be undone!
Wiki Walk-Through from TeachersFirst
Use this link to learn about wiki basics, how to use wikis with your classes, how students benefit, planning steps, "twiki" issues, some wiki how-to's, and getting students and parents started. http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
Click the link in, "I know the basics. Take me to some ideas for how to use a wiki in my teaching."
In the menu box on the left, roll over the topic to read some ideas of how wikis can be used.
Don't see what you need? Click the to see even more ideas.
Select the Discussion tab at the top of this page.
Under the Subject heading, click Using a Wiki Ideas, read the message, scroll to the bottom of the page, and post your idea as a reply.
On the "More Wiki Ideas for the Classroom" page, click Take a Wiki Walk in the navigation bar on the left. Take a look at some of the sample wikis.
Other Topics You Should Examine
Why Use a Wiki? Connections, Creativity, Engagement, Interpersonal, Writing and Metacognition.
Twiki Issues: Parental/Safety Concerns, Student Wiki Warranty, Vandalism vs Editing, Spelling, Copyright
Examples of Educational Wikis
This site has numerous examples of how teachers have used wikis. Educational Wikis
Teacher Consultant: K-12 Science
Curriculum and Instructional Services, ESC
Widgets
A widget gives you the ability to embed special features like a video, calendar, or other dynamic content. The video at the top of the Class 1 page is an example of a video from TeacherTube that has been embedded on a wiki page.Here is a TeacherTube video embedded as a widget. Please note that the video was produced in March of 2009 and there have been some changes to Wikispaces since then so a few things look very slightly different. Also, the demonstrator drags to select the embeddable code, but you only have to click anywhere on the code to select it all for copying and then pasting into the widget.
Creating Tables in Your Wiki
All of the schedules on the pages for each day of TechInspired 2010 were created by inserting a table. You can create tables like this by using theReturn to editing mode to complete your table. When the cursor is anywhere inside the table, you will see this button:
Navigation
Most Wikispaces themes have a navigation area on the left or right side of the web page. "Home" is always the first page in the list. As you add pages to your wiki, Wikispaces uses a widget to automatically add links to the pages in the navigation area and list them in alphabetical order. If alphabetical order is not what you want, you can delete the widget and create your own navigation list.Click Edit Navigation at the bottom of the navigation list.
Delete the
Type the name of the first page you want listed.
Select (highlight) the page name and click the Link button in the Editor bar.
If the page already exists, select it from the drop-down list. You might have to click "Choose an existing list."
If the page does not exist, the page name you typed will be shown in red. Click the Add Link button. The link will be added the Navigation area and the new page will be created.
Manage Wiki
There are several management features that you fill find useful and necessary. Not all of the management features are listed here.mFeaturem
Function
Wiki Walk-Through from TeachersFirst
Use this link to learn about wiki basics, how to use wikis with your classes, how students benefit, planning steps, "twiki" issues, some wiki how-to's, and getting students and parents started.http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
On the "More Wiki Ideas for the Classroom" page, click Take a Wiki Walk in the navigation bar on the left. Take a look at some of the sample wikis.
Other Topics You Should Examine
Examples of Educational Wikis
This site has numerous examples of how teachers have used wikis.Educational Wikis